Singapore’s new Funan complex to feature designs by Grant Associates

Funan to be redeveloped as lifestyle destination with retail, leisure and office use.

12 OCTOBER 2016, FUNAN, SINGAPORE

Summary

Funan, one of Singapore’s best known shopping malls for electronic goods, is to be redeveloped as an ‘experiential creative hub’ featuring a multi-level landscape strategy designed by Grant Associates.

Funan, one of Singapore’s best known shopping malls for electronic goods, is to be redeveloped as an ‘experiential creative hub’ featuring a multi-level landscape strategy designed by Grant Associates.

The redevelopment of the 31-year-old complex follows owner CapitaLand’s decision to reposition the site as a lifestyle destination. Covering 887,000 sq ft, the mixed-use building will offer a six-storey retail mall, two six-storey Grade A office buildings and one nine-storey block of residential apartments.

Key to the identity of the new venture is a focus on the experiential, including the creation of a series of gardens. Grant Associates has created a landscape design concept that centres on the theme of ‘Nature: City’. The scheme incorporates a water garden with views of Fort Canning, an ‘urban farm’ and edible garden, elevated walkways and a roof-top communal garden with views to the Marina and Central Business District.

By creating a range of special gardens and green spaces, the landscape strategy aims to consolidate CapitaLand’s vision of relaunching Funan as a destination, in addition to offering enhanced shopping facilities.

Key design features of the new landscape design are as follows:

A series of plaza spaces within the public realm announce the entrances into Funan at ground level, while the Water Garden on level 4 centres on a pool that stretches out from the planting, reaching towards views of Fort Canning. Access to the pool is via two themed approaches, the Forest Steps surrounded by lush planting and the Water Steps, which are surrounded by living water features.

The Garden Stair links levels 4 to 7, taking visitors along raised walkways that are enveloped by planting and nature. In places, the walkways appear to extend beyond the confines of the building to create look-out points that project the viewer over the lower levels and street below.

The Funan Urban Farm aims to showcase sustainable food production with a range of technologies. It will be unique to Funan, adding to its status as a special destination. The intention is to demonstrate the diversity and cyclical relationships of crop production rather than produce food on a commercial scale.

The Edible Garden on level 7 looks across to the Urban Farm and overlooks the Garden Stair. Featuring a range of edible plants, the space will offer sweeping views of the surrounding city from the comfort of giant swings and hammocks floating above planting.

The Community Garden on the roof combines a variety of recreational components including; a chill-out valley of giant sun loungers and mounds covered in storm lilies; an alfresco kitchen with edible table and tilted shade lawns that look out towards Fort Canning.

Funan is scheduled to re-open in 2019.

Tamasine Scott, Senior Associate at Grant Associates, comments: “Our intention for Funan is to excite and entice. We want to create surprising experiences within a rich and diverse multi-dimensional public realm. A landscape that invites further exploration, helping to draw people through the multi-layered building and entwined landscape features.

“Visitors entering the complex can enjoy a series of characterful gardens and green spaces that inspire creativity and delight the senses – from the basement levels right up to roof-top levels. The landscape aims to connect the mall’s retail, office and residential uses to nature, leaving visitors reinvigorated and enthused to return.”

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Quotes

"Our intention for Funan Mall is to excite and entice. We want to create surprising experiences within a rich and diverse multi-dimensional public realm. A landscape that invites further exploration, helping to draw people through the multi-layered building and entwined landscape features. Visitors entering the complex can enjoy a series of characterful gardens and green spaces that inspire creativity and delight the senses – from the basement levels right up to roof-top levels. The landscape aims to connect the mall’s retail, office and residential uses to nature, leaving visitors reinvigorated and enthused to return.
"
Tamasine Scott, Senior Associate at Grant Associates

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About Grant Associates

Grant Associates is an international landscape architecture consultancy inspired by the creative possibilities of sustainable landscapes and driven by the desire to connect people and nature. Our work fuses nature and technology in imaginative ways to create cutting-edge designs guided by a concern for the environment and a desire to enhance people’s quality of life.

Grant Associates has experience in all scales and types of ecological and landscape development including strategic landscape planning, master planning, urban design and regeneration and landscapes for parks, housing, education, sport, recreation, visitor attractions and commerce.